(a) (1) This section shall apply to specialty mental health services provided by counties to Medi-Cal eligible individuals. Counties shall provide services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries and seek the maximum federal reimbursement possible for services rendered to persons with mental illnesses.

(2) To the extent permitted under federal law and Section 5892, funds distributed to the counties from the Mental Health Subaccount, the Mental Health Equity Subaccount, and the Vehicle License Collection Account of the Local Revenue Fund, funds from the Mental Health Account and the Behavioral Health Subaccount of the Local Revenue Fund 2011, funds from the Mental Health Services Fund, and any other funds from which the Controller makes distributions to the counties may be used to pay for services provided by these funds that the counties can then certify as public expenditures in order to achieve the maximum federal reimbursement possible for services pursuant to this chapter.

(3) The standards and guidelines for the administration of specialty mental health services to Medi-Cal eligible persons shall be consistent with federal Medicaid requirements, as specified in the approved Medicaid state plan and waivers to ensure full and timely federal reimbursement to counties for services that are rendered and claimed consistent with federal Medicaid requirements.

(b) With regard to each person receiving specialty mental health services from a mental health plan, the mental health plan shall verify whether the person is Medi-Cal eligible and, if determined to be Medi-Cal eligible, the person shall be referred when appropriate to a facility, clinic, or program that is certified for Medi-Cal reimbursement.

(c) With regard to county operated facilities, clinics, or programs for which claims are submitted to the department for Medi-Cal reimbursement for specialty mental health services to Medi-Cal eligible individuals, the county shall ensure that all requirements necessary for Medi-Cal reimbursement for these services are complied with, including, but not limited to, utilization review and the submission of yearend cost reports by December 31 following the close of the fiscal year.

(d) Counties shall certify to the state that they have incurred public expenditures prior to requesting the reimbursement of federal funds.

(e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.

(Added by renumbering Section 5718 (as added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 651, Sec. 2) by Stats. 2012, Ch. 34, Sec. 152. (SB 1009) Effective June 27, 2012. Section operative July 1, 2012, by its own provisions. Conditionally inoperative as provided in Section 14721.)